Stamp-affixer.



W. F. SGHWEIGER 6; B. D. STRAIGHT.

STAMP AFFIXBR. APPLICATION FILED 1VOV.21, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

u AIII!" UNITED sTAtrns ATENT OFFTCE.

WILLIAM F. SCHWEIGER AND BENNETT D. STRAIGHT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 MULTIPOST COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STAMP-AFFIXEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Application filed November 21, 1910. Serial No. 598,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F; SCHWEI- can and BENNETT D. STRAIGHT, of Rochesmarked thereon.

The present invention relates to stamp atfixers and has for its object to provide certain improvements in connection therewith for preventing the surreptitious removal of the stamps.

To this end the invention contemplates an arrangemcntflof the parts whereby the removal of a stamp from the guide way in any other way than by the actual operation of the machine, will render the latter inoperative.

One embodiment of the invention consists in arranging the parts of the guide way or channel through which the stamps are feel so that they may be projected successively into affixing position by the feeding mechanism, but will be arrested in the event an attempt is made to extract them by means other than the action of the feeding mechanism.

To these and other ends the invention consists incertain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the'specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectiol al view of a stamp affixing mechanism llustrating the application thereto of a mechanism embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the guide way taken on the line 2"2" of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 .is'a side elevation of the stamp container and guideway removed from the uuu-hine; Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views taken on the line 4"-4" of Fig. 3, illustrating the operations of the parts when actuated to prevent the removal of stamps; Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified form of stamp arresting mechanism.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several figures indicate similarparts.

This application is a continuation of the joint application for U. S. Letters Patent for improvements in stamp affixers, filed by us under date of June 6. 1910, hearing Serial No. 565,167, and in illustrating the present invention certain parts of the stamp aiiixer disclosed in said application have been shown to clearly illustrate the operation of the mechanism embodying the fea tures of this invention.

The .stamp afiixer as a whole comprises thc-franie 1 in which is guided a vertical reciprodi'ltory atiixing member 2 which is normally retracted into inoperative position by a spring or springs 3, and projected downwardly into affixing position, through an aperture 4-. provided in the base of the frame, by means of the shaft 5.1m which said member is mounted, provided with a handle or knob 6 conveniently shaped to fit the hand of the operator.

The feeding devices by which the stamps are projected into the path of the affixing member comprise a plurality of fingers 7, arranged side by side and cooperating with the stamp strip guide way. The feeding devices are supported upon a carriage 8 in the form of a sleeve surrounding, the shaft 5, and adapted to reciprocate therewith.

At one side of the frame is mounted a small tank or liquid container 9 from which water or other liquid may be ejected, through small apertures (not shown) located at the lower end of the tank, by. means of a )iston operating therein, the extremity of w ich projects exteriorly of the tank, as indicated at 10. Cooperating with the latter is a spring 11 having a cam surface 12 thereon which cooperates with a spring latch 13 arranged in the face of the afiixing member 2, as shown in dotted lines.

The stamp guide way to which the resent invention is partlcularly directs is adapted to conduct the stamp stri froln a suitable receptacle to a point of ischare near the lower end and at one side of tie path of movement of the atiixing member 2, and as the latter is also designed to cut. or sever the projtp'ted stamp, the extremity of the V ide way leads to the cutting bar 14 whic is provided with a suitable aperture,

forming a continuation of the aide way, across which the cutting edge or nife lfi'on the affixing member passes when the latter is depressed downwardly into affixing position.

In machines of this character it is essential that means be provided to prevent the unauthori d removal of the stamps, and also to render the machine inoperative in the event such an attempt is made, and to this end the guide way is constructed with a portion which is adapted to impart a continuous normal curve to the stamp strip as it passes along the guide way. Coiiperating with the latter is an arresting member so positioned that it is normally inoperative, the curved part of the stamp strip passing at one side of said member unobstructedly. 'Ihe'shaipe of the guide way and the portion of the arresting member is such that any attempt to withdraw the stamp strip by pulling its free end will cause it to be deflected into engagement with the member which will afterward securely hold the strip and prevent it from being advanced by the subsequent action of the feeding mechanism.

In the illustrations of the type of apparatusadopted as a commercial form of apparatus which includes one embodiment of the invention. the following arrangement of parts has been shown Removably attached to one side of the frame is a. receptaole-15' adapted to contain the rolled stamp strip indicated by 16, the extremity of which passes downwardly into the guide way through the aperture or throat 17. The receptacle and guide way are preferably connected together to form a single member or element of the machine so that these parts may be readily detached when it becomes necessary to reload the receptacle or disengage the stamp strip from the arres ing member. To this end a supplemental frame piece or leg comprising the side pieces 18 and 19 and the back piece 20, depends from the receptacle 15 and at their lower and these parts inclose a key operated lock having a bolt 21, securing the receptacle and v ide way to the frame I. In the drawings t e receptacle is also shown provided with ears orfingers 22 adapted to .be hooked in rear of a projection 23 at the upper end of the frame, which together with the lock hold the receptacle and guide way in operative position. The guide way comprises the backing or stationary member 24 which forms its outer side, and spring arms 25 forming its inner side, and bearing lightly against, the face of the stamp strip-at its e iii guide way throughout a portion of its length extends in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the feeding mechanism or fingers 7 so that during the downward or advancing movement the latter the strip may be fed forwardly a distance e ual to the length of a single stamp, the guice way as a whole being of a sufficient length to cause a portion of the strip, equal to the length of two or more stamps. to be always projected or pushed ahead of the feeding devices.- At its lower end the guide is curved, as indicated at 24 for the purpose of directiifg the free end of the stamp strip to one side of or laterally to the direction of its feeding movement. The spring arms 25 are attached at their upper ends to the outer side of the wallfifthe receptacle or container 15", by means of rivets or other suitable fastening devices, indicated by 26. from which point they curve downwardly to form an open throat beneath the aperture 17, in which the end of the stamp strip may be easily inserted, and thence along the lateral edges of the stationary guide member 24 to the beginning of the curved portion of the guide. From this point the springs instead of following the curve extend in a substantially straight line to a point near the extremity of said curred portion where their ends are rounded over arated points. This is sufficient to hold the stamp strip lightly in engagement with the back of the guide way and as the strip is pushed or shoved around the curve it will naturally lie'flat against the part 24, or should the paper he a trifle stifi' the friction imparted to it by the lower ends of the spring arms 25 will retard the movement of its forward end sufiiciently to cause the paper to be flattened against the curved portion of the guide. The spring fingers 25 bear lightly against the stamp strip so that only aslight pull on its outer end will be sufiieient to disturb its normal position and draw it out of engagement with the backing 24. The means for arresting the stamp strip when time deflected comprises in the present instance, two impaling pins or needles 28 and '29, their location being generally described as at the inside of the portion of the stamp strip which is curved by the guide way, although it will be understood they may be otherwise arranged. the intention being to so position them that they will engage the stamp strip when it is pulled forwardly in the guide way. The arresting member is supported upon spring fingers 30 and 31 carried on the arms 25 to which the fingers are secured at their upper ends. as in mated at 32. a

The impaling pins or needle points normally rest in rear of the fingers 25 and are adapted to be brought into action, by projectinc through slots or apertures 33 provided in the arms 25, when the lower ends of said arms are moved outwardly. Spring tension is imparted to the arms 25 in a direction to cause them to normally more toward the back or stationary part of the guide way, and tension is also provided in the fingers 30 and 31 to move the impaling pins rearwardly into engagement with shoulders or stops 34, projecting inwardly from the side walls 1S and l!) of the supplemental frame in which said guide is supported. These stops. it will be noticed, are so positioned that when the stamp strip is pulled forwardly and deflected from the hack of the guide way, as shown in Fig. 4, which may be easily done by a strain on the strip less than that required to tear ofl a stamp, the strip will be drawn into engagement with the needle points. The latter are also set at an angle to the direction of movement of the stamp strip so that the pulling tension thereon will ca use it to become firmly caught and this angular position of the needle points also serves to retain them in engagement with the strip when the pulling tension on the latter is released and the arms 25 are allowed to return to their normal position with the consequentresult that the impaling pins are moved toward theback of the guideway, the light spring tension of the supporting arms 30 and 31 permitting them to be carried away from the stops 34. This condition of the apparatus is a sure indication of an attempt to remove a stamp, as the strip being firm] held resists the further action of t c feeding device or fingers 7, which if subsequently operated will merely cause the next succeeding; stamp in the strip to be wrinkled, as shown in Fig. 5. To restore the machine to operative condition the stamp receptacle and guide way must be removed by the authorized person possessing the key required to release the latch or bolt 21. These parts being detached, the arresting member or members may be disconnected either by the operators finger, or a suitable instruinent for retracting the needles,'when the crumpled stamp may besmoothed out or removed.

It is obvious that deflecting or directing the free end of the stamp strip in a direction laterally to the movement of the feedingmechanism provides a certain amount of fullness or idle material between the ex tremity of the guide way and the feeding mechanism, which can be easily displaced by pulling the extremity of the stamp strip or tape, but as this object may be accomplished in other ways, we have shown in Fig. 6 another simple arrangement of the parts also falling within the purview of our invention. The illustration referred to is somewhat diagrammatic, the guide way being shown as comprising a back a over which the stamp strlp or tape 11 is passed, it being projected in the direction toward the right hand end of the figure, by means of a reciprocating feeding finger 0. At some point in the length of the guide way in advance of the limit of movement of the feediag finger it is provided with an aperture. (I at each side of which are located spring fingers e, e, which are curved upwardly at their approximate ends to impart a curve or wave to the stamp strip as it is a't'lvanecd or pushed toward the discharge end of the guide way. The spring fingers over which '1 the strip passes hold it lightly in this position but permit the tape to be flattened or deflected out of its normal position when its free end is pulled. Projecting into the aper ture d is an impaling pin or needle point f carried on the spring finger g and held in the desired position in reference to the curved portion of the stamp strip by a stop or projection h.

A stamp aflixer constructed in accordance with this invention while particularly adapted to be used for applying postagestamps to pleces of mail matter, is equally well adapted for other uses, one of which may be mentioned as label atiixing, and for this reason it will be understood that where the expression stamp strip has been employed either in the specification, or the claims appended hereto, it applies equally to postage stamps, labels or the like which may be arranged in strip form and are adapted to be discharged successively from the machine.

In machines of this character a distinct advantage is obtained not only by locking the strip when it is ulled forward to prevent the removal 0 stamps, but also by rendering the machine incapable of further operation onsubseque feeding stamps, as the arresting of the strip in the first instance prevents the removal of more than a single stamp and provides unmistakable evidence that an attempt was made to remove them.

We claim as our. invention: a

1. In a stamp afiixer, the combination with -an afiixing member, a guide way for stamp strips having a portion adapted to im art a continuous normal curve to astamp strip as it is fed therethrough, a feeding device adapted to coiiperate with the stamp strip for advancin its free end along the guide, of an impaling pin located at the inner side of the curved portion of the strip and adapted to be engaged by the latter when a suflicient tension is imparted to the free end of the strip to cause its curved por tion to he deflected, said pin being movably supported and capable of bein moved by the strip when the tension app ied thereto is removed.

2. In a stamp ailixer, the combination with an ailixing member, a guide way for stamp strips having a portion adapted to impart a continuous normal curve to a stamp strip as it is fed therethroiigh, a feeding device adapted to cotiperate with the stamp strip for advancing its free end along the guide, of an impaling pin located at the inner side of the curved portion of the strip and adapted to be engaged with the latter when a suflicient tension is imparted to the free end of the strip to cause its curved ortion to be deflected. said pin being incline at an angle to the direction of movement of the stamp strip and capable of being moved by the strip when the tension applied thereto is removed.

3. In a stamp afiixer, the combination with an ailixing member, a guide wa for stamp strips having a portion adapte 'to impart a continuous normal curveto a stamp strip as it is fed therethrough, a feeding device ada ted to coiiperate with the stamp strip for dvancin'g its free end along the guide, of an impaling pin located at the inner side of the curved portion of the strip and adapted to be engaged by the latter when a snflicient tension s imparted togthe free end ofthe strip to cause its curved portion to be deflected, said pin being movably supported and capable of being moved by the stri when the tension applied thereto is remove and a spring finger coiiperating with the inner side of the curved portion of the stamp strip for normally guiding the strip around said in.

4. n a stamp afiixer, the combination with an affixing member, a ide way for stam strips having a curve portion, an impa ing pin movably supported at the inside of said curved portion, and a movable finger engaging the stamp stri to yieldingly hold it out of engagement wit said pin, of means for feeding the stamp strip along the guide way. 7

5. In a stamp ailixer, the combination with an aflixing member, a guide way for stampstrips having a curved portion, a yielding finger located at the inside of said curved portion for normally holdin astamp strip in engagement with the gui e, of any iinpaling pin located behind the finger and movable toward the guide and means for feeding the stamp along the guide way.

, 6. In a stamp, afiixer, the combination with an aflixing member, a guide way for stamp strips having a curved extremitfy', a (yielding finger arranged at the inside 0 sai curved part of the ide way, of an im alin in located behidd the finger, a sepai' ate nger yieldingly supporting the pin and means for feedin a stam strip along the guide way and a vancing its free end around the curved end of the guide way.

7. In a stamp afiixer, the combination with an aflixing member, a guide way for stamp strips curved-at its extremity to form a discharge end located at one side of the path of the aflixing member and devices for pushin a stamp strip along the guide, of an impa in pih located at the inner side of the -curve portion of the guide in a position to pins being yieldingly supported and adapted to engage the stamp strip when deflected in the curved portion of the guide.

9. In a stamp aflixer, the combination with an aflixing member, a guide way for stamp strips comprising a rigid backin provided with a curved extremity, ielding arms forming one side of the gui e way having their free ends extending at an angle across the inside of the curved portion of said backing and yielding fingers carried on the arms, of impaling ins sup orted on said fingers and feeding devices or advancing a stamp along said guide way.

10. In a stamp aflixer, the' combination with a movable aflixing member, a stamp strip receptacle and a guide way 'leadin therefrom, said ide way comprising aibac c piece extending rom the rece tacle and havinga curved extremity, an extending longitudinally of the eel: piece and movable relatively thereto, of a sprin finger carried on the arm and provided wit an impaling in, a stop for limiting the movement of t e finger in one direction late'rall of the guide wayand devices for feeding a stamp stri along the ide way.

WILLIA F. SOHWfilGER. BENNETT D. STRAIGHT. Witnesses: RossELL B. GRIFFITH,

G. WILLARD RICH.

Gopieu of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by dressing the Commissioner of Iatents.

Washington, D. 0."

a 5 ring arm 

